Charge former for cigar machines



Aug. 11, 1942.v H. H. WHEELER 2,292,420`

CHARGE FORMER FOR CIGR MACHINES Filed June 3, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet lATTORNEY Aug. l1, 1942. H. H. WHEELER" CHARGE FORMER FOR CIGAR MACHINESFiled June 3, 1939 2 sheets-sheet 2 ATTORN EY Patented Aug. 11, 1942UNITED STATES PATENT AOFFICE CHARGE FORMER FOR CIGAR MACHINES Henry H.Wheeler, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to International Cigar MachineryCompany, a corporation of New Jersey 'Y Application June 3, 1939, SerialNo. 277,160l

18 Claims.

This invention relates to charge formers for cigar machine filler feeds,its main object being to'provide a novel apparatus and method for bunchcharge forming, the particular apparatus selected to exemplify theinvention constituting an improvement of the device disclosed in PatentNo. 1,791,558, issued February 10, 1931, to V. G.

Hanson. v

In the device referred to, the ller tobacco is fed in a layer of theproper width equal to the length of the bunch to be made, by anintermittently driven belt against the lingers of a weighttensionedcharge-retaining plate which blocks the advancing tobacco layer untilthe density of the accumulated mass is suflicient to permit the exertedpressure to overcome the weight of the retaining plate, whereupon thethus properly condensed filler advances into the charge forming chamber.When advanced to the proper distance for one bunch charge, a triparrangement is actuated which stops the feed belt and a cam operatedknife severs the charge in the forming chamber from the fed layer. Asthe charge is cut, the measuring fingers are pulled downward by a camoperated rod, permitting a row of reaper Vfingers to remove the severedcharge. The latter is then inserted by a row of pusher ngers into acharge transfer which deposits the same upon the rolling table of themachine whereon a rolling apron actuated by a rolling pin rolls itwithin a binder to form a cigar bunch.

While in the device shown in the above mentioned vHanson patent themeasuring chamber is of rectangular cross-section which necessitates there-shaping of the charge on the rolling table and thereby places unduestresses on the rolling apron, in the present invention thecharge-former parts are so shaped as to provide a measuring chamber ofcircular cross-section. The stream of tobacco advanced by the feed beltis much thininner surface of the forming chamber may be provided withone or more positively driven curling rollers which propel the advancingfeed layer as it enters into the measuring space. This form- 'ingAchamber may be so constructed, asshown in the modified embodiment of theinvention to also serve as a transfer for the charge to the rollingapron.

, In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this invention andin which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of the improved charge former; A

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, online 2--2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 8yis a plan View thereof equipped with a cross feed;

Figs. 3 4 and 5 are enlarged sectionalside elevations ofthe improvedcharge former at different stages of cutting and transferring the'bunchcharge; l y

Fig. 6 is a sectionalside elevation showing a modification of theimproved chargeformer; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional end elevation on lineA 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Referring to Figs.` l and 2, the intermittently driven f eed belt I0,which runs over pulleys Il, I2, I3 and I4,j advances the bunch-lengthwide, thin layer of ller tobacco T under the leveling star wheels I5 andguide ngers I6, whence the feed rollers I1 pass it on to the platform I8and into the measuring chamber. The latter is formed by the arcuate endsof the ngers of the movable charge retaining plate I9 coacting with theconcave Aunder faces of the stationary guide bars 20 and movableforwardly in slots therein. The retaining plate I9 is attached to an arm22 swinging on stationary studs 23. The upper end of the arm 2I ,isconnected by a rod 24 with an arm 25 on oneV end of a fulcrum shaft 23,the other end of said shaft carrying a Weight arm 21 which is equippedwith removable weightsto vary the rresistance of the plate to thetobacco fed into vthe measuring chamber.

As the measuring chamber fills up, the thin tobacco layer '1 curlsupfinto a cylindrical spiral, as

shown in Fig. 3, the under faces of the bars i6 being ,setA somewhathigher than the thickness of the tobacco stream to permit the same tocurl up whilegradually Ypushing the plate I9 forward and raising theweight arm 21 in doing so. When the Vcharge T' has been compacted to theproper density, an adjusting screw 29 bearing against a nose on vweightarm 21 and carried byv arm 30 trips a lever 3|, thereby causing thelatter todisengagevpawl 32 from ratchet 33 and thus stop the feed beltI0, and more fully described in Patent No. 1,791,558, above mentioned.

During the dwell of the feed belt, a cam operated knife 34 cuts thebunch charge T', whereupon a rod 35vpivoted to swinging frame 22 andactuated by a cam lever 36pul1s the retaining plate l9 downward, asshown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, thus clearing the Way for the reaperngers 3'! which have come down from their dotted rest position to theiroperating position 3l during the cutting process, to push the severedcharge T forward.

Having advanced the charge T a given distance, Fig. 4, the fingers 3istop at 5l, move up into the dotted position 31' and back into restposition 31, from which they again descend into operating position 3l asthe next charge is being cut. In this position of the charge the reaperfingers 33 at the forward ends of the reaper finger 31 engage with thebunch charge T', as shown in Fig. 5, and, upon the advance of thefingers after the cutting of the next charge, push the charge T into thepocket 39 of a charge transfer 48, such as described in U. S. Patent1,838,192 granted December 29, 1931 to R. E. Rundell. This transferdescends into position 40 while its pocket 39 rotates to aV position-wherein its plunger 4I ejects the charge into a pocket of the rollingapron 42, this pocket being formed by the descent of the transfer 48,The rolling pin 43, when passing over the rolling table 44, after thereturn of the transfer 48, will then produce a cigar bunch by rollingthe cylindrical charge T into a binder previously deposited upon theapron 42. During its entire travel from charge-cutting position topocket 39, the charge T is firmly held between the platform I8 and theguide bars .20, and the walls of the pocket 39 are made to fit snuglyabout the charge. The latter, therefore, retains its cylindrical shape,re-

lieving the rolling apron of the extra strain of shaping the bunch.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6 and '7, the guide bars I8, platform25, reaper fingers 3l, 38 and transfer 49 of Figs. 1 to 5 are omitted,the

feed belt lil advancing the filler tobacco layer T into a swingablysupported forming chamber 45 which delivers the formed charge directlyon to the rolling apron 42.

This forming chamber consists of a partly open cylindrical chamber 45connected by arms 45 to a hub 41 which is mounted on a shaft V4Sswingable in bearings of the bunch machine. The lower portion 49 ofchamber 45 is pivoted to the upper portion on pins 55 which form the`trunnions of a roller 5l extending between the arms 46. The pivotedpart V49 of the forming chamber at each side has a rearward extension`52 which carries a'compression spring 53 bearing against one of thearms 46, these springs holding noses 54 of the extension 52 against stoppins 55 carried by the upper portion of forming chamber 45,1thus holdingthe part 49-in its operativeposition.

When in the receiving position, shown infull lines in Fig. 6, theconcave ends of the upper and lower portions of the chamber 45 restagainst the stationary rollers 55 and 5T turning in bearing lugs onsupport blocks 58 Vand 59, the rear face of the lower block 59 beingshaped to form-part of the cylindrical receiving surface between therollers 55 and 57. The rollers 5l, 53 and 5l are so mounted as toproject a small distance inte the forming chamber. The rollers 55 and 57are driven from the main shaft of the machine by a chain 5l running overa sprocket 52 on `a shaft 63 concentric with the receiving position ofthe forming chamber 45 and carrying a gear 64 meshing with gears' `and55 on the trunnions of rollers 55 and 51, respectively. The hub 4l, on`ascrew arm 51, carries a weight 53 adjustably fastened thereon by thumbnuts te, this weight taking the place of .the balance weight 2l, 28 ofFig. 1. To the hub 4'1 are attached cam pieces 'i8 on the projectingnoses of which rest the side arms 'il of a frame carrying the knife 72,the knife frame being pivoted on a shaft 'I3 which has a lever 'I4connected by the rod 24 t0 arm 25 on shaft 26 of the feed control. Theknife frame is held against the cam pieces I0 by springs l5 attached tothe arms 1l. 'Ihe pivot shaft 48 of the forming chamber has a crank arm16 which is connected by a rod 35 to the cam lever 36.

The stream of filler tobacco T is carried by the feed belt l0 under acompression belt 'I7 running over rollers I8 and 19, the belt 11 beingdriven in synchronism with the feed belt by a chain 83 from Ya sprocket8| on drive pulley Il of the feed belt, the chain 38 driving a gear 82meshing with a gear 83 on the shaft of roller 19. The compressed layer,in entering the forming chamber, is rolled up into a cylindrical chargeby the action of the rollers 56, 5I and 51. When the chamber is filledto the proper density, as predetermined by adjusting the balance weight68, the cam pieces 'I6 trip the knife frame 1|, the latter dropping onto the arcuate portions of the cam pieces 18, thereby, through .rod .24,stopping the feed belt i8 and, through springs 15, causing the knife 'I2to cut the charge in chamber 45, the blocks 58 and 59 being suitably cutout to permit the passage of the knife. Thereupon `the cam lever 36,through rod 35 and arm 'l5 on shaft '48, swings the chamber 45 into thedelivery position'45, shown in dotted lines, the cam-actuated lever 36being so timed Vas to allow abundant time for the lling of chamber 45and for cutting the charge. While in transit the lower portion 49 of theforming chamber engages the rollingapron'42 and forms the rolling pocket42. In the delivery position, the extensions '52' of the hinged portionv-49 `engage With stop pins 84 attached to the frame of the machine,thereb-y compressing the springs 53' and opening the chamber 45', sothat the charge T is released and deposited on the rolling apron 42. Thelatter is thenslowly paid out by its take-in roller 85, which iscontrolled by an endless chain 86 actuated by a cam lever 81, therebygently lowering the'charge T, so that upon the return stroke of lever 36the path is clear for the upward motion of the forming chamber. Thecharge, which has `retainedits cylindrical shape during its descent onthe rolling apron, is then rolled into a cigar bunch A*bythe rollingpin'43, as before.

Before the cam 'lever 35 has completed its down stroke which restoreschamber "45 into receiving position, the action of the Vfeed controltemporarily raises the knife frame 1I sottrat, on arriving in receivingposition, the'cams T9 will pass into trip engagement with the knifeframe, ready to stop the feed and to lactuate the knife upon thecompletion of the next charge. When the cam pieces 'I0 trip the knifeframe the rod 24 is urged in the direction of thearrow (Fig.6) therebyswinging the arm -25 in a direction which causes its'nose to press thestop screw downwardly and thereby swing the arm sufficiently to .permitYthe spring-pressed trip lever 3l to disengage the pawl 32 from theratchet 33. Thus the driving of the drum through the planetary gearing(not shown) is terminated, as "described in Patent 1,791,553 referred toabove, until reinstated in ze manner described in said patent, wherebythe trip lever is disengagedfrom the-pawl, vthe knife frame being raisedto inoperative position by vmechemisrn (not shown) andthe trip lever -34being retained in its' ineffective position bythe arm 30.

It is advantageous to feed athin stream of filler tobacco to themeasuring chamber or charge transfer for curling therein. A suitableconstruction for this purpose is illustrated in Fig. 8 wherein across-feed advances a widethin stream of ller tobacco from which bunchlengths are severed and transferred sidewise to a ller feed IUI having aconstruction similar to that shown in Figs. 1.-4 hereof. Hence a fillerstream having a thickness preferably of one half or less of the desiredthickness of bunch charge may be fe'd into the measuring chamber. Thecross feed may have the construction shown in the Vrpatent to W. B.Bronander, No. 1,740,571, except that a thin stream of tobacco insteadof one of bunchcharge thickness is fed on the cross-feed and the widthof the stream thereon is su'icient to ,supply sufficient filler for abunch charge in each bunch length severed therefrom, although a, crossfeed .having a construction similar to that disclosed in the LindbladPatent No. 1,977,994, October 23, 1934, may be employed to form bunchlengths and deliver them to the ller feed IUI.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a yielding member, of devices for advancing acontinuous shallow stream of filler tobacco against said member andcurling it upon itself to form a roll of filler tobacco and compact thesame to a predetermined density, and means for separating from saidstream of tobacco the roll of tobacco so formed and compacted againstsaid yielding member.

2. The combination with a yielding member, of devices for advancing acontinuous shallow stream of ller tobacco against said member andcurling it upon itself to form a roll of filler tobacco and compact thesame to a predetermined density and displace said member a predetermineddistance, and means for separating from said stream of tobacco the rollof tobacco so formed and compacted against said yielding member, saidyielding member having an arcuate end against which the stream oftobacco is advanced, and said devices including guide bars havingconcave inner faces coacting with said arcuate end to curl up thestreamof tobacco into a roll as it displaces said member.

3. The combination with a yielding member, of devices for advancing acontinuous shallow stream of ller tobacco against said member andcurling it upon itself to form a roll of filler tobacco and compact thesame to a predetermined density, and means for separating from saidstream of tobacco the roll of tobacco so formed and compacted againstsaid yielding member, said member being provided with a semi-cylindricalpocket, and said devices including driven rolls coacting to feed thestream of tobacco into said pocket and curl the same into a roll thereinand engaging said roll of tobacco.

4. The combination with a yielding member, of devices for advancing acontinuous shallow stream of filler tobacco against said member andcurling it upon itself to form a roll of filler tobacco and compact thesame to a predetermined density and displacesaid member a predetermineddistance, means for separating from said stream of tobacco the roll oftobacco so formed and compacted against said yielding member, and meansfor incapacitating said devices when said member has been displacedthrough said predetermined distance.

5. The combination with a yielding member, of

devices for advancing' a continuous `shallow stream of filler tobaccoagainst saidV member and curling it upon itself toV form a roll offiller tobacco and compact the same to a predetermined density, andvmeans for separating from said stream of tobacco the roll of tobacco soformed and compacted against said yielding member, a charge transferadapted to receive the severed charge roll of tobacco and firmly holdvthe same, carry it to binder-applying position,

and reapers for inserting the severed charge into said transfer. v

6. The combination with a yielding member, of devices for advancing acontinuous shallow stream of filler tobacco against said member andcurling it upon itself to form a roll of filler tobacco and compact thesame to a predetermined density, and means for separating from saidstream of tobaccothe roll of tobacco so formed and compacted againstsaid yieldingv member, said member being provided with aV pocket adaptedto receive the charge of tobacco, and mechanism for moving sai-d memberinto a position wherein the charge is deposited to be rolledwithinabinder.

7.7The combination with mechanism for forwarding a layer of ller tobaccoapproximately equal in width to the length of a cigar bunch, of asevering device, a, yieldably mounted measuring device spaced beyondsaid severing device in the direction of movement of said layer, meanscoacting with said measuring device to halt the operation of theforwarding means when said device is displaced a predetermined distancefrom said severing device by said layer, and means for curling saidlayer on itself prior to severing.

8. In a cigar bunch making machine, the combination with means forforwarding a layer of tobacco containing substantially more thansufcient tobacco for a single bunch charge, of means for curling theforward portion of said layer to form a generally cylindrical bunchcharge, and mechanism for severing the curled portion from the remainderof the layer to separate the charge.

9. The combination with .a filler transfer adapted to admit a stream offiller tobacco and curl the same upon itself to form a roll of fillertobacco, means for feeding a continuous stream of tobacco into saidtransfer, a device for separating the roll so formed in the fillertransfer from said stream of tobacco, said transfer being constructed toconstrict said roll, and mechanism for moving said transfer to depositsaid roll in binder-applying position.

10. The combination with a measuring chamber, of means for feeding astream of tobacco into said chamber, and a member having a curvedportion extending into said chamber into position to oppose said streamof tobacco and cause it to curl upon itself to form a roll.

11. The combination with a measuring chamber, of means for feeding astream of tobacco into said chamber, a member having a curved portionextending into saidchamber into position to oppose said stream oftobacco and cause it to curl upon itself to form a roll, mechanism forwithdrawing said member from the measuring chamber following theformation of said roll, and devices for severing said roll from saidstream and removing it from said chamber.

12. The combination with means for feeding a Y continuous stream oftobacco, of a measuring of tobacco, said chamber being provided withconcave surfaces acting to curl the stream of tobacco into cylindricalform.

13. The combination with means for feeding a continuous stream oftobacco, of a measuring chamber adapted to admit said stream of tobaccoand cause it to curl upon itself to form a roll of tobacco, said chamberbeing provided with driven rollers coacting to engage and curl thestream of tobacco within said chamber and said means comprising a set ofopposed members arranged to engage said stream `at a position anteriorto said chamber and coacting to forward the stream into said chamber andinto engagement with said rollers.

14. The combination With Va yieldingly mounted measuring chamber adaptedto admit an advancing stream of tobacco and be bodily displaced thereby,of mechanism for feeding a continuous layer of tobacco into said chamberand adapted to be incapacitated by said chamber when the latter has beendisplaced a predetermined distance by the pressure of said layer.

15. The method comprising advancing a stream of tobacco, curling theforward end of the stream upon itself to form a roll of tobacco, andseparating the roll so formed from said stream.

16. VThe method of forming bunch charges and delivering them to a bunchrolling apron which comprises advancing a stream of tobacco, curling theforward end of the stream upon itself Ato form a roll of tobacco,separating the roll so formed from the stream, and simultaneouslyholding said roll against uncurling and transferring the same to thebunch rolling apron.

1'7. In a cigar machine, the combination with a member having a pocketadapted to admit a layer of tobacco and engage the forward end of saidlayer and thereby curl said end upon said layer, of means disposed at aposition anterior to said pocket to engage a layer of tobacco at aregion anterior to said pocket and operating to feed the layer oftobacco into said pocket whereby said layer will be coiled upon itselfwithin the pocket.

18. In a cigar machine, the combination with a b-inder applyingmechanism, of means for forming a bunch charge of long iiller tobaccorolled upon itself, and a member adapted to engage the exterior of therolled bunch charge to constrict the same, and transfer it to saidmechanism for application of a binder thereto.

HENRY H. WHEELER.

